Judges Chapter 3 verse 16 Holy Bible

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) Made him a dagger which had two edges.--Probably, as in other servitudes, the children of Israel had been disarmed. The "two edges" (comp. Revelation 1:16) show that it was not a mere knife (comp. Psalm 144:6; Hebrews 4:12). Jerome, in the Vulgate, after rightly rendering the word ancipitem, adds, "having a handle in the midst," which seems useless and meaningless, and has no equivalent in the Hebrew.A cubit length.--The LXX. and Vulgate render it a span long (spitham?s, palm?; Luther, eine elle lang). The Hebrew word is not amm?h, the usual word for a cubit, but gomed. A dagger of a span long hardly, however, suits the following narrative, and perhaps gomed is an archaic word for amm?h. It meant originally "a staff."Under his raiment.--The LXX. and Vulgate have "under his war-cloak" (LXX. manduan, Vulg. sagum). The LXX., however, are only adopting a method very common with them--of choosing a Greek or, as in this case, a Persian (Hesych.) word which resembles the Hebrew word (maddim) in sound. The root of the Hebrew word shows that a long flowing robe (vestis talaris) is intended. Dean Stanley suggests that he wore it as leader of the tribe. Prudentius describes Discord as "hiding a dagger under her robe."Upon his right thigh.--This would avert all suspicion. Doubtless the war-cloak was flung in folds over the left shoulder, and Eglon, unaware that the bearer of the tribute was left-handed, would see that the side at which arms were usually worn was covered with a flowing robe, and would not suspect the dagger hidden at the right side. Daggers were often, however, worn at the right side, when a sword was slung to the left. Amasa fell by a similar act of treachery. Joab, advancing to kiss him, clasped his beard with his right hand, while with his unsuspected left he gave the deadly thrust (2Samuel 20:9-10). . . . Parallel Commentaries ...HebrewNow Ehudאֵה֜וּד (’ê·hūḏ)Noun - proper - masculine singularStrong's 164: Ehud -- the name of several Israeliteshad madeוַיַּעַשׂ֩ (way·ya·‘aś)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularStrong's 6213: To do, makefor himselfל֨וֹ (lōw)Preposition | third person masculine singularStrong's Hebrew a double-edgedשְׁנֵ֥י (šə·nê)Number - mdcStrong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)swordחֶ֗רֶב (ḥe·reḇ)Noun - feminine singularStrong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sworda cubitגֹּ֣מֶד (gō·meḏ)Noun - masculine singularStrong's 1574: A short cubit (from elbow to knuckles of clenched fist)long.אָרְכָּ֑הּ (’ā·rə·kāh)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularStrong's 753: LengthHe strappedוַיַּחְגֹּ֤ר (way·yaḥ·gōr)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularStrong's 2296: To gird, gird on, gird oneselfit toעַ֖ל (‘al)PrepositionStrong's 5921: Above, over, upon, againsthis rightיְמִינֽוֹ׃ (yə·mî·nōw)Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularStrong's 3225: The right hand, side, the souththighיֶ֥רֶךְ (ye·reḵ)Noun - feminine singular constructStrong's 3409: Thigh,loin, flank, sideunderמִתַּ֣חַת (mit·ta·ḥaṯ)Preposition-mStrong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu ofhis cloakלְמַדָּ֔יו (lə·mad·dāw)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularStrong's 4055: Extent, height, a measure, a vesture, a carpetJump to PreviousBound Cloak Clothes Clothing Cubit Dagger Double-Edged Edges Ehud Half Length Maketh Mouths Raiment Right Robe Side Sword Thigh Two-Edged